The Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City will meet again in a potential playoff preview when the Eastern Conference foes clash on Wednesday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium. Both teams come into the game with the opportunity of sealing their berths in the MLS Cup Playoffs with a victory – and they’ve met in the postseason each of the last two years. The Dynamo sit in third in the East after their 1-0 home win vs. Montréal, four points behind Sporting, who are in second after kicking off their road swing with a 1-0 win at Columbus.

Hoffman details his first meeting with Ching and his recent conversation with the Hawaiian about what the future may hold after his retirement at the end of the season. There's some laughs, but it also makes you realize just why this city and this soccer player have become inextricably linked.

The Dynamo are rounding into form at just the right time. Unbeaten in their last four MLS matches and taking 10 of a possible 12 points, Houston’s 1-0 victory over the Montreal Impact vaulted them past the Canadian club and into third place in the conference. With a pivotal match set for this Wednesday against Sporting Kansas City (TICKETS) et’s take a look around the conference to see how the rest of the playoff race is shaping up.

Chicago went on the road and got the job done against cellar-dwelling D.C. United, thanks in large part to Sean Johnson’s nine saves. The Friday night win temporarily pushed the Fire into the fifth spot, but they would later be displaced as the weekend wore on.

Now in sixth with 43 points, Chicago has a roadtrip to FC Dallas this weekend before dates against Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls.

New York left this one until literally the last kick of the game, as Tim Cahill scored the game-tying header in the seventh minute of stoppage time, six minutes after Diego Fagundez scored what most thought would be the game winner.

With the draw, New York became the first team to clinch a spot in this year’s playoffs and still sit atop the standings with 53 points. The Red Bulls have the weekend off before visiting Houston on Oct. 20 (TICKETS).

New England, meanwhile, were passed up by both Chicago and the Philadelphia Union and sit in 7th place with 42 points. The Revs travel to Montreal this weekend before back-to-back games with the Columbus Crew to finish the season.

Sporting Kansas City continued their road success in Columbus, all the while dampening the Crew’s faint flicker of playoff hope.

After four wins in their previous five games, Columbus was keeping their name on the edge of playoff discussion. But the Crew now face elimination if both Montreal and Philadelphia win this weekend.

Kansas City will come into Houston this Wednesday knowing that a win clinches their passage into the playoffs. A draw coupled with a Chicago draw or loss would also secure that result. Sporting, who have won four of their last five, are four points ahead of the Dynamo in second place with matches against D.C. United and Philadelphia remaining after Wednesday’s match.

Philadelphia put themselves in playoff position after Kleberson’s free kick goal gave them a 1-0 win over Toronto FC. Their 45 points put them two ahead of Chicago and two behind the Dynamo. The Union face D.C. United this Saturday before a tough finish against Montreal and Sporting KC.

Wednesday night’s match is a big one for the Dynamo in terms of securing a spot in the playoffs and determining which spot that may be. The Dynamo can clinch if:

They win against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday AND

New England Revolution ties or loses vs. Montreal Impact on Saturday AND

Chicago Fire lose vs. FC Dallas on Saturday

A win over Kansas City will also put the Dynamo on 50 points, giving them a chance to tie conference leaders New York when the teams meet on Oct. 20.

It’s a playoff atmosphere the rest of the way at BBVA Compass Stadium, you don’t want to miss it.

Bobby Boswell and Calen Carr go head to head in FIFA 14, and Bobby learns an important lesson in different types of cheeses.

We want you to get in on the FIFA action, too! You can win seats in the EA SPORTS FIFA 14 Sideline Lounge for this Wednesday's match against Sporting Kansas City. Just beat SKC with the Dynamo on FIFA 14, then show us on Twitter using #HOUvSKCFIFA.